Old vs. New: Subaru Outback

Subaru Philippines recently launched the all-new Outback. The crossover-station wagon has been a staple for the brand for decades, and the redesigned model is its sixth iteration. But what exactly is new with it? Let's take a closer look

Exterior

As far as looks are concerned, you could say it's an evolution rather than a revolution. Put it side by side with the outgoing model and it is rather similar. However, there are more than enough changes to differentiate the 2021 model from the previous versions.

The headlights are slimmer while the grille is wider than before. The body accents are also thicker to give it more attitude. And at the back, the tail lights are a different interpretation of the current clusters.

The new Outback is also longer (4,860 mm vs. 4,801 mm), wider (1,855 mm vs. 1,821 mm), and taller (1,680 mm vs. 1,623 mm) than before. So before you buy one, consider your space in the garage and office parking space first.

Interior and features

Whereas the exterior changes are relatively subtle, it's a different story inside. Dominating the center of the dash is an 11.4-inch touchscreen, nearly double the size of the old screen.

The dashboard also features more angles and contrast panels than before. Bold old and new versions still have a pair of analog dials, but the new one has a larger multi-info display. Like before, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard in the 2021 model, along with the EyeSight active safety system.

Engine

The Philippine-spec model still uses the 2.5-liter Boxer engine, however, the 2021 version has slightly more power. The redesigned Outback now packs 188 hp and 245 Nm of torque, which is up by 13 hp and 10 Nm more than before.

Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is still standard, and it still uses a continuously variable transmission or CVT.

Price

Here's the kicker: The all-new Outback is more affordable than before. It's PHP 28,000 less than the outgoing model. While it's not by much, every little counts these days. That means the 2021 Outback now retails for PHP 2,380,000.

Of course, some will say that it's rather pricey, but you can always check out the Automart.PH site and check out quality used examples of the previous generation. You'll still get a lot of space, technology, and safety for a lot less than the all-new model.